Dem. Senators Consider Axing Medicare Buy-In

WASHINGTON (CN) – After criticism from two key lawmakers, Democratic senators announced that they might drop from the health care bill a Medicare buy-in plan for people between the ages of 55 and 64.

Under the plan, uninsured Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 would be able to purchase Medicare coverage before it automatically kicks in at the age of 65. The Medicare buy-in was a compromise hammered out to appease more liberal Democrats after party members did away with the contentious government-run public option. Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman and Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson had voiced their opposition to the buy-in measure. Rumors swirled over a back-room comment Lieberman purportedly made about how he would join a Republican filibuster if the buy-in were part of the health bill.